They say, “Is your PC acting sluggish? Are strange windows inexplicably popping up on your screen? Do you have to reboot your computer because of errors and lockups? Our free computer checkup and diagnostics can help you detect and fix many common computer problems! Our full PC tune-up should be your first stop to get the computer help you need.” And there’s lots more good stuff on the site.

http://pcpitstop.com/

     And here’s PC PITSTOP’s “50 Tips For a Super-Fast PC”:

http://pcpitstop.com/news/50.asp

ASK LEO YOUR COMPUTER QUESTIONS

     I love this man. Leo Notenboom allows you to ask computer questions that he personally answers. Most websites that help with computer problems either throw you and your question into a forum or make you poke around all day trying to find the answer in a long impersonal list. But I must admit that Leo has already answered most of the obvious questions you and I might have, and you may have to look through his backlog of questions to find your answer. He is nice enough, however, to arrange his frequently asked questions into categories, so you don’t have to poke around so long.

     You can subscribe to Leo’s weekly newsletter and get more solutions to computer problems, some of them problems I’d never be technically advanced enough to have in a million years. Or you can just wait until you have a problem and come to his site:

http://ask-leo.com/

PROBLEMS OPERATING YOUR NEW GIZMOS?

     If you have problems mastering any kind of new electronic device, you may need ZOLVED.COM. They say, “Use ZOLVED to solve technical support issues for your computer, wireless network, MP3 players and more . . .” Just put into their searchbox the name of the item that’s troubling you, and see what comes up.

http://www.zolved.com/

     You can learn still more about your electronics at HOW STUFF WORKS:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/

DEALING WITH SPAM

     JUNKBUSTERS has great tips for dealing with spam. And you know, of course, that you never reply to an unsolicited email – even if it appears to be from reputable organization like a bank or eBay or from an unnamed “friend” sending you a greeting. And government agencies like the IRS do not email citizens – such an email is from a criminal hacker who will steal your financial data. The only thing to do with an unsolicited email is hit “Delete.”

http://www.junkbusters.com/ht/en/junkemail.html

     You may also find things of interest in the Computers, Advanced, section called “Find Anyone’s Email Address.”

IS ANOTHER COMPUTER JOINING YOUR FAMILY?

     You may be interested in a suggestion from Mike Hodapp. Mike is my resource for computer expertise, and he's also a deeply experienced parent. The kids' computer at Mike's house is in the family room, the place where his family does its living. Parents are the ultimate computer safety device.